Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

• 

  Brand new buyer- crossing my fingers Fre - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By joto284 - June 1 - 5:50 am

  What can I say about a car I bought three days ago for my kid? I will keep it positive.I am crossing my fingers. A certified jetta 2011SE ,70k miles with 24 months &24k miles warranty.VW was not in my radar screen. I was looking for a Honda or a Toyota equivalent and 4K-6K more. I like this VW handling and the leather seats, bluetooth. If I had read the reviews I would not have purchased it. I am waking up every day thinking that I screwed up. My local mechanic is happy because he thinks we will see each other more. How can VW be in business with such bad reviews. Sales dropped another 8% last year. Wish me luck, I hope not to return to add a bad review

• 

  perfect car! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By stefanie - May 30 - 5:10 pm

  This is my first Volkswagen car that Ive bought and I know I made a great choice with the all new 2006 Passat. It is awsome to drive and I turn so many heads driving it! Anywhere I go people ask me what kind of car it is! I got a great deal on it too.

• 

  Great Highway Sipper - First VW & First TDI - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By ricknlaser - May 30 - 8:54 am

  I researched and negotiated a great deal over the internet with a local dealer. Got the color and interior that I wanted in the SEL (Opera Red with Black interior). Took over a month to get from the factory but has been well worth the wait. So far I have 2700 miles and have only filled (16 gal) the tank 3 times (first one on the dealer!). Great driving and handling. I have a 90 mile per day commute in busy highway with a reasonable amount of slow down and speed up type driving. So far - averaging 46 mpg in my 3 fill ups. It is really FUN to drive! Better than any Hybrid I test drove.

• 

  A super car for the money. Great value - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By billiebob - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Ive already submitted a longer review on the Jetta in general. No other car maker offers such a combination of features for the price. How else could you get: sport suspension with top of the line touring tires gorgeous german BBS wheels 4 wheel disc ABS 6 airbags sport seats interior leather accoutrements 6 disc CD changer sunroof A fast turbo engine The list goes on and on! the audi A4 has the same features (plus leather) for almost 8000 more! Forget it and buy the Jetta. Ive had NO problems in 35000 miles!

• 

  2003 VW Passat: Beyond the call - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By leica - May 30 - 2:00 am

  A super nice auto! Well made, fun to drive,comfortable,safe and affordable. Volkswagon is killing the competition! A 15 year BMWer who is equally happy with a bunch of cash to spare. Very Well done.

• 

  Excellent Value! - 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
  By joepalace - May 30 - 1:47 am

  Just brought on 10/14/2012. Excellent value! used 0% $0 down financing and 3 yrs of maintenance included. I was afraid leatherette seats where going to look cheap, but they actually look great and are very comfortable. In fact they are more comfortable than my Infiniti I-30 leather seats I just traded in. The space in the back seat is great as a full size adult fits comfortably. The premium entertainment is wonderful and the ipod/iphone integration is excellent. Bluetooth works perfectly. Acceleration is up to par with what you expect on this type of vehicle. Its not a racing car, so acceleration is what should be considered normal. So far a great choice!

• 

  2016 S - 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Drew - May 29 - 3:30 pm

  Ive been leading a 2016 Tiguan S for about a month and so far I am very happy with it. The stock stereo is great, it rides and drives like a Golf, the interior is well thought out and feels much higher quality than its price would imply. Not sure if VW rates their engines at the wheels but every FWD model Ive seen dyno results on matches VWs power output claim, so in reality the engine is likely putting out 230+hp and 240+lb-ft, and it feels like it. Im coming from a modified, 400hp Taurus SHO so I was expecting a huge let down. Im quite happy with the getup and go this car has. Im also averaging 20.5 mpg in the city (actual city) and 28 on the highway with cruise at 75. Now for my complaints: no satellite radio on the base model. Seriously? Almost everyone else has that. As a satellite radio subscriber this let me down, but not enough to outshine the merits of the rest of the car Trunk is small. Very small. Like cant fit my collie mix comfortably in the back with the rear seats fully reclined. Fortunately this can be overcome by sliding or angling the seats forward. All things considered I think this is the most underrated small SUV on the market

• 

  Very Impressed - 2009 Volkswagen Routan
  By Hawkster00 - May 29 - 11:36 am

  There was no way I was going to buy a "mini-van" but my wife convinced me so I got her one for Christmas. Needless to say I was very impressed with all the features you get with a SE model. It drives like a dream and my daughter loves watching movies on car rides to the grocery store. Dont buy a mini-van, buy a Routan.... :-)

• 

  Best Car In Class - Period. - 2005 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Angus - May 29 - 10:40 am

  I bought my Jetta 2.5 a few days ago and I must say that I am amazed with this cars overall quality, fit and finish and attention to detail. The interior design is excellent and all materials are top-rate. The AT is smooth shifting and includes 6-speeds. Theres every feature you can possibly want (with package #2) in a car in this class. No other car in this class is as well equiped or has the same attention to detail for the price (~$26k)- period. The performance of the standard 5 cyl. is "good", but its slightly noisy; brake performance is very good; suspension is slightly firm but not too much (and absorbs bumps well); the steering feels slightly light; and the seats are excellent.

• 

  Continuing the VW Tradition - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By bbhall - May 29 - 4:16 am

  Our fourth VW, the 2010 Passat retains a strong German character in ride, handling, interior design, and overall build quality. Great family car, with plenty of room for 4 or 5, comfortable front seats for all-day cruising, good power and fuel economy, and some very thoughtful design features. Just about the only reasonably-priced mid-size European car sold in the U.S. Weaknesses are slight hesitation when accelerating (plenty of torque and power, just a lagging transmission response) and the absence of certain features, such as auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic climate control, and rain-sensing wipers that were found in previous versions of the Passat and most major competitors.